How much spending money for 8 days in Costa Rica?
February 17th, 2010 | 
Author: My husband and I are going on an 8 day trip at the end of April. Our hotel, transportation, excursions, and breakfasts are paid for. This will be an adventure-filled vacation without trips to any big cities, so our only chance for shopping or spending would be hotel/airport gift shops.
How much should we bring for lunch and dinner for both of us, and how much to spend on souvineirs. Also any useful general info is appreciated.
Thank you : )
Well, considering you are going to be in touristic places where the food is usually a bit more expensive than it normally is… Lets say you will be paying around $5-7 for breakfast each, a good lunch would be around $13-15 each and dinner probably around the same. So you would be spending around $600 in food between the two of you, you can add $50 or so extra if you plan on buying bottled water to carry around. And souvenirs, well here is depends on what you are planing on buying, there are many things from $1 to hundreds of dollars, what i would definitely advice you is to try and bargain a little because usually souvenirs are overpriced on purpose so people who bargain get discounts and people who dont end up spending more than they shouldve.
I would say $1000 would be a good amount to take with you, I don’t think you will spend that much but its better to be safe than sorry. Also carrying a debit/credit card is always a good idea in case something unexpected comes up. Most international credit cards will work anywhere here in Costa Rica.
Hope this helps! have a nice trip! 
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Posted in adventure costa rica
Well, considering you are going to be in touristic places where the food is usually a bit more expensive than it normally is… Lets say you will be paying around $5-7 for breakfast each, a good lunch would be around $13-15 each and dinner probably around the same. So you would be spending around $600 in food between the two of you, you can add $50 or so extra if you plan on buying bottled water to carry around. And souvenirs, well here is depends on what you are planing on buying, there are many things from $1 to hundreds of dollars, what i would definitely advice you is to try and bargain a little because usually souvenirs are overpriced on purpose so people who bargain get discounts and people who dont end up spending more than they shouldve.
I would say $1000 would be a good amount to take with you, I don’t think you will spend that much but its better to be safe than sorry. Also carrying a debit/credit card is always a good idea in case something unexpected comes up. Most international credit cards will work anywhere here in Costa Rica.
Hope this helps! have a nice trip!
References :
Costa Rican
Just got back. Spent all of Feb traveling Costa Rica.
100 bucks a day would be more than enough. I used my debit card to grab cash at the ATM. They are everywhere.
ALWAYS keep your radar up……Costa Rica has a bandit problem…….and…………its not just in San Jose……..got robbed in Arnal in less than one hour. Think safety any you’ll be safe…
Its a really great adventure……..you need much more than 8 days….but its a start.
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both replies above are on the "safe side", and I’d go with ATM withdrawals rather than US cash to travel (besides a basic ‘stock’ of 1.00 bills for tips).
pay with Colon wherever you can, it will be cheaper.
remember, the average household income is about US 4,000.00 p.a. – so a "tourist spend" of 1,000.00 on food for eight days plus a few trinkets, is a lot.
you will also note that people don’t travel to CR for the food – it’s a best rather bland, but a little Lizano will help there. Costa Rican cuisine is tasty rather than spicy-hot and is centered around beef, chicken and fish dishes, with rice, corn or beans and fresh fruit as supplements.
for more info on the country, see here:
http://www.therealcostarica.com/
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